In a surprise move, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo fired Mr. Daniel Noble Awuley as the Municipal Chief Executive of Hohoe Municipal Assembly.
Although no reason was given for Awuley’s sacking, it could be associated with the impending 2024 election and the need to energize the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) voter base in the Volta Region as the party seeks to “break the 8” and extend its rule.
The abrogation of his appointment was made public via a recently released government circular signed by Honourable O.B. Amoah, the Minister of State at the Ministry of Local Government, Decentralisation, and Rural Development.
Constitutionality of the action
Concerning the President’s decision above, it can be said to be justifiably within his powers under article 243 (3) (b) of the Constitution and Section 20 (3) (b) of the Local Governance Act 2016 (Act 936).
“Pending the apointment of a new , you are to hand over your duties to the Hon. Regional Minister who will exercise oversight responsibility of the Municipal Assembly until the confirmation of a new Municipal Chief Executive.”
Government press release
There is an unconfirmed reports suggesting that one Mr. Francis Fiakpiu is tipped to succeed honourable Awuley.
District assembly system
legally in Ghana, district, Municipal, and Metropolitan assemblies are elected on a non-partisan basis, though contrary to the law, in reality, the process is in all but name a partisan exercise.
The unintended consequence of this politicisation at the local level, is the difficulty of successfully approving a Chief Executive. It appears gone are the days when appointment by the President is enough to usher one into office. These days, reports of delays, gridlocks, and the inability of Assemblies to approve the President’s nominees are rampant.
To avoid such embarrassing outcome, some nominated individuals in spite of having full “ Presidential backing”, are reported to provide gift and other valuables incuding cash “insentives” to assembly members to smoothen their way.
Attempted Reforms
For years, there has been growing dissatisfaction with the current political arrangement at the district level, and several ideas have been mooted to change the existing one. In 2019, the NPP government brought forward a proposal that would have provided for elected Chief Executive Officers for assemblies on a partisan basis.
The opposition NDC, agreed to an elcective Chief Executive Officer but was adamant against making it partisan. It insisted that the position should remain a “non-partisan”. Within this tense argument and discord, the referemdum couldn’t hold. Regardless, it ultimately showed the level of consensus that exists on the need for local government reforms in Ghana. Only that, the dispute is in the form and nature of that reform.
Likewise, in the ongoing campaign, murmurs are emerging about local government reforms. Although no coherent policy proposal has been presented yet, the existence or whispers of that notion indicate a yearning for recognition among the major parties for a new arrangement.
Dissecting the President’s Mind.
It is undeniably correct that it would be difficult to examine and predict the President’s thoughts surrounding the sudden change of hierarchy. More importantly, too, the strategic importance of Hohoe to the New Patriotic Party show-of-flag in the Volta region cannot be overstated.
As the only Parliamentary seat the party has in an otherwise National Democratic Party stronghold, it is not strange that the change of gear happened towards the the commencement of full election campaign .
Furthermore, what may not be known is the main reason for the change now. The Vice President’s level of involvement in these changes may also not be known in the interim. If anything at all, the NPP campaign seems to be well coordinated with the government, and it is reflected in the party’s governance style, choices, and messages these days.
As whether Ghanaians would bet another four years of Governance to the party, or seek an alternative in its rival the NDC, 7th december 2024 will give the verdict.
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